Drake (ft. Phonte & Elzhi) - "Think Good Thoughts" (prod. by 9th Wonder)

This guy loves making songs about women. And I'm pretty sure they love listening to them. This one is an older song of his mixtape "Comeback Season" that dropped in 2007, but due to legal issues (i.e. he hadn't paid for the beat yet) it couldn't release the full song - including Elzhi's verse.

[DOWNLOAD] Drake ft. (Phonte & Elzhi) - "Think Good Thoughts"

Courtesy of Heinz.

[NEW] Elzhi - "Deep" (prod by Black Milk)

There's no getting around it, Elzhi raps better than you. And realistically, he probably raps better than everyone you know. No disrespect to you and yours, but some cats are just on another level. That's Elzhi.

This track is bananas. I had to listen to it 7 times before I was able to comprehend the verbal gymnastics going on here.

[DOWNLOAD: Elzhi - "Deep" (prod by Black Milk)] (Download will start when you click)

Courtesy of Hexmurda.

Detroit Love Dilla.

Jay Dee week rolls on here as we present an HHO Tribute to Dilla. Here Detroit emcees talk about what Jay Dee meant to their city and hip hop as a whole. RIP James Dewitt Yancey (1974 - 2006). Your life and legacy live on.

[NEW] eLZhi - "Save Ya" (feat. T3)

The second single from eLZhi's latest release, The Preface (great album), gives a stern warning to all you gold diggers out there, and to look elsewhere if you're trying to reap the benefits of his hard earned success. Amen, brotha.

"Infatuated with material things / You only see your feet in those shoes, your ears in those rings / But, uh, you can come around on your best behavior / But sorry Love, I can't Save Ya."

DOWNLOAD: eLZhi - "Save Ya" (feat. T3)

[NEW] Elzhi - "Colors"

This is slightly different than Ice-T's version. But Elzhi knows how to put fly words together to make clever sentences what rhyme really well. Call it a gift. His wordplay in this one is top notch. Pay attention, you wack emcees, you might learn something.

DOWNLOAD: Elzhi - "Colors" (produced by Black Milk)

P.S. Black Milk is developing to one of the best up and coming producers in the game. What is about Detroit and making good music? Is there something in the tap water? I know it's not the weather.

P.P.S. Elzhi's debut solo album drops next Tuesday, August 12th. Do yourself (and Hip-Hop) a favor, and cop it.

P.P.P.S. If you need more information on who Elzhi is, go here.

Elzhi - "Motown 25" & "That's That One" (Live)

As part of our Soundcheck section, Hip Hop Official presents Elzhi Live. He also happens to be our Artist of the Week.

The Detroit wordsmith and Slum Village member drops 2 dope songs for you: "Motown 25" and "That's That One." His debut solo album, The Preface, drops 8/12.

(Little known fact: The shirt El's rockin during the performance is from my homie E-Dub's company, Eighty's Baby.)

[BONUS] DOWNLOAD: Elzhi - "Motown 25" (feat. Royce Da 5-9)
[BONUS] DOWNLOAD: Elzhi - "That's That One" (prod. by Black Milk)

Artist of the Week: Elzhi

Detroit wordsmith, and one half of Slum Village, Elzhi is our Hip Hop Official Artist of the Week. Elzhi joined Slum Village (who originally consisted of J Dilla, T3, and Baatin) in 2002, after Dilla left the group to pursue his solo career (and Baatin left the group shortly due to health issues). Elzhi is an emcee's emcee. One of the most lyrical cats in the game, his flow and wordplay are top notch. Not too many cats can see him on a lyrical level. He also carries on the Detroit tradition of that gritty soul music that has been flowing out of Motown via artists like J Dilla, Slum Village, Proof, Royce the 5'9, Guilty Simpson, Black Milk, and Phat Kat.

His debut solo album, The Preface, drops next month, so make sure you cop that.

Peep the interview, and peep the free download after that.


DOWNLOAD: Elzhi - Fire (prod. by Black Milk)
DOWNLOAD: Slum Village - Selfish (feat. Kanye West & John Legend) (Produced by Mr. Kanye West)
DOWNLOAD: Slum Village - Reunion (feat. J Dilla) (This is one of my favorite tracks right now. The beat is ree-dic-u-lous.)

Also, we'll have a live performance from Elzhi for you this Friday, so stay tuned for that.

Black Milk - "Shut It Down" + "Say Something" (Live)

HHO Soiundcheck presents Black Milk dropping 2 songs from his album, Popular Demand.